JHCC Posted May 19, 2021 Author Share Posted May 19, 2021 The hook has been successfully reshaped and is now substantially more secure. I’m also working on easing up the action of the pedal, which is kind of stiff. I’ve added a counterweight to balance the pedal itself, and I need to open up the guide holes that the vertical rod passes through. More to come. Unfortunately, the stand tipped over as I was lifting it down from the welding table, it Ianded hard, and the pilot light snapped off. VERY annoying. I’ll check with my local welding supply place to see if they carry the right part; if not, I’ll have to order one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted May 19, 2021 Share Posted May 19, 2021 The hook looks good John. Bummer about it falling over and breaking the pilot. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted May 19, 2021 Share Posted May 19, 2021 Another reason to chain welding tanks to a wall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted May 19, 2021 Author Share Posted May 19, 2021 Glenn, the tanks weren’t on the cart when that happened. I doubt I could have lifted it onto the welding table in the first place if they had been. 7 hours ago, Frosty said: Bummer about it falling over and breaking the pilot. Frosty, your talent for understatement shines through like the North Star on a clear winter night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted May 19, 2021 Author Share Posted May 19, 2021 Replacement pilot light ordered; with any luck, I'll have it by the weekend. Fingers crossed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted May 19, 2021 Share Posted May 19, 2021 "your talent for understatement shines through like the North Star on a clear winter night. " pretty much an understatement too as the north star is fairly dim compared to Rigel and Betelgeuse! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted May 19, 2021 Author Share Posted May 19, 2021 True, but Polaris is more Alaska-appropriate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted May 19, 2021 Share Posted May 19, 2021 Did you order extra pilots? They're in a kind of vulnerable position, a tap from a torch can do them right in and a person doesn't want to take a lot of time with the gas flowing out of the tp. It was pretty common for guys to move a little fast and get too close to the pilot cup until they got used to using a gas saver. I don't recall anyone putting a guard over one though so maybe it isn't a big deal. Maybe do any more welding on the floor? Just a thought. Axial tilt and the local star are making it hard to see other stars though I suppose Polaris was visible in the wee hours this morning but I was sleeping. The voices have seen it. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted May 19, 2021 Author Share Posted May 19, 2021 The place I ordered from only had one in stock, so I just ordered that one. I like the idea of a guard; even a bent rod to keep the torch from making contact would be better than its current naked vulnerability. I still have some work that would best be done up on the table, if only for the sake of my lower back. I'll probably just take the gas saver off first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted May 19, 2021 Share Posted May 19, 2021 12 minutes ago, JHCC said: just take the gas saver off first. I concur. Ain't hindsight a wonderful thing? Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted May 20, 2021 Share Posted May 20, 2021 9 hours ago, ThomasPowers said: "your talent for understatement shines through like the North Star on a clear winter night. " pretty much an understatement too as the north star is fairly dim compared to Rigel and Betelgeuse! The 'clear as ' metaphor that always comes to mind is 'clear as a glass bell, on a cold night, in Montana, before Statehood' but it works for Alaska too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted May 22, 2021 Author Share Posted May 22, 2021 Well, unless something tends to be drastically changed when I get the replacement pilot light installed, I think we’re done. I added some more counterweight and opened up the lifter guides to make the pedal action easier: And added a self-storing weight for holding the gas saver arm down while it’s in torch mode: (Feeling pretty good about that last detail, too. Rather clever, if I say so myself.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Evans Posted May 22, 2021 Share Posted May 22, 2021 May I suggest you rotate the economiser around 90˚ so that the actuator arm is way from the bottles? When the torch is alight it may be a bit too easy to direct the flame down onto the gauges and pipes when you hook it on to shut down. On mine I kept it all clear to ensure that when lighting and extinguishing it is easiest to direct the torch nozzle away from any object that might have a gas seep.... Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted May 22, 2021 Author Share Posted May 22, 2021 Might move the oxygen tank to the near side, but anything else would require a total redesign and rebuild of the pedal mechanism and torch holder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted May 22, 2021 Share Posted May 22, 2021 Or add a flame shield. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted May 22, 2021 Author Share Posted May 22, 2021 Moved the tank and installed the pilot light replacement (just came in the mail). A shield is certainly a possibility. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted May 22, 2021 Author Share Posted May 22, 2021 (Hmm, not the best photo. The road right now, but I’ll try to get a better one later.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted May 22, 2021 Share Posted May 22, 2021 The angle and framing is sort of a scary looking, if we didn't know what it is. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted May 22, 2021 Author Share Posted May 22, 2021 There, that’s better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted May 22, 2021 Share Posted May 22, 2021 That should work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted May 23, 2021 Author Share Posted May 23, 2021 Fired it up today for the first time since final assembly. Everything appears to work well, with the exception of the pilot light, which I can’t get to hold a flame. It seems to want to blow itself out, and I can’t figure out how it’s supposed to be adjusted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted May 23, 2021 Author Share Posted May 23, 2021 After I exchanged a couple of texts with Judson Yaggy, the pilot light decided to work after all. I think I may have frightened it. Standard mode: Torch mode: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted May 23, 2021 Share Posted May 23, 2021 Ayup, that's how I recall them working. Well, not #2 but it's close. Going to try a little upsetting now? Don't forget fancy twists. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted May 30, 2021 Author Share Posted May 30, 2021 First actual project in torch mode: forging a notions bowl for Lisa. The pedal worked beautifully. Holding the workpiece up to the torch was a bit tiring, though. I have an idea for a folding support that should improve things. More to come.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted May 30, 2021 Share Posted May 30, 2021 Looks like it's working well. I know you want to use a soft flame but that's pretty rich. There's plenty of heat out in the secondary envelope for soft flame jobs. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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